Led by four seniors the EP boys’ cross country team continues to impress as they finished just 13 points behind meet champion Elmwood at the 16 team Dale Donner XC Invitational hosted by Bureau Valley on Saturday. The Panthers were ranked 14th and Elmwood 5th in Class 1A in last week’s ILXCTF poll.
The Panther’s Charlie Link took second overall trailing only Isaiah Hill from Elmwood. Hill took the title on the 3 mile course in 16:11 with Link 10 seconds back. EP placed 5 runners in the top 40 in the field of 162 runners on the undulating course in Walnut.
Lucas Dreisbach placed 13th in 17:02 with Jacob Gibson taking 27th in 17:30 and Tyson Skinner taking 31st clocking a 17:49. Sophomore Gus Schultz completed the Panther scoring crossing the line in 18:07 for 39th place.
Wyatt Goosens, 42nd (18:21) and Alex Bomleny 45th (18:29) completed the Panthers top 7.
The Lady Panthers placed 9th among 19 teams with 246 points. Williamsville won the title with 86 points and TRAC rival Sherrard was 4th with 117.
Freshman Sarah Link continued her streak as the top finishing Panther this season grabbing 25th place in 20:27 among the field of 178.
Another freshman, Jessie DeNeve, was the second Panther runner to enter the chute with a 53rd place finish in 22:03. Chloe Slock 58th (22:07), Jillian Norman 69th (22:43) and Clara Ashdown 82nd (23:38) also scored for EP.
Brooke Lalley 101st (24:48) and Taylor Robshaw 104th (24:52) completed the top 7 for EP.
The teams will compete at Sherrard on Tuesday.
